SL/R232: Orange Peel Alert
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
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Even though the SL’s are not the most expensive in the MB line, they are, in a way, “halo” cars. They draw attention and are ogled by those who aspire to own one. They are proud banners for the the 3-Pointed Star. They tend not to be daily transportation, but prized toys—for lack of a better word—always polished & cared for, usually to a much higher degree than one’s daily driver vehicle. MB should know this and should take extra care in the finishing of these cars. Once completed, should an issue like orange peel be found, it should be corrected at the factory before seeing the light of day. Obviously, zero imperfections should be the goal for a company with a heritage like MB, but while we might excuse something like orange peel on a CLA, an SL should be virtually flawless.
As someone who has owned 60 brand new cars, 17 of which have been MB, I have been getting the feeling that the old guard in Stuttgart are gone and the younger folks taking their place just don’t seen to care as much about the legacy they have been entrusted with. I also believe that the dealers are overwhelmed and are sweeping issues under the rug.
As someone who has owned 60 brand new cars, 17 of which have been MB, I have been getting the feeling that the old guard in Stuttgart are gone and the younger folks taking their place just don’t seen to care as much about the legacy they have been entrusted with. I also believe that the dealers are overwhelmed and are sweeping issues under the rug.
Last edited by RJC; Mar 12, 2023 at 02:41 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
To be fair to my dealer, they noted the microscratches at delivery and they suggested a paint correction firm. That firm was one I'd worked with before with great results.
I know that dealer quality varies, but I've been fortunate to buy from Hendrick Porsche, Mercedes, and Subaru dealerships in Durham NC, where quality and services standards are consistently very high. It all comes down to corporate culture, as is always the case regardless of industry. As an example, the CPO on a GT3RS I bought in 2019 was **** retentive beyond belief, down to replacing a front spoiler with a minuscule scratch. underrneath.My local Ford dealership is also fanatical about service quality.
I know that dealer quality varies, but I've been fortunate to buy from Hendrick Porsche, Mercedes, and Subaru dealerships in Durham NC, where quality and services standards are consistently very high. It all comes down to corporate culture, as is always the case regardless of industry. As an example, the CPO on a GT3RS I bought in 2019 was **** retentive beyond belief, down to replacing a front spoiler with a minuscule scratch. underrneath.My local Ford dealership is also fanatical about service quality.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: on my way
2012 CLS63
To be fair to my dealer, they noted the microscratches at delivery and they suggested a paint correction firm. That firm was one I'd worked with before with great results.
I know that dealer quality varies, but I've been fortunate to buy from Hendrick Porsche, Mercedes, and Subaru dealerships in Durham NC, where quality and services standards are consistently very high. It all comes down to corporate culture, as is always the case regardless of industry. As an example, the CPO on a GT3RS I bought in 2019 was **** retentive beyond belief, down to replacing a front spoiler with a minuscule scratch. underrneath.My local Ford dealership is also fanatical about service quality.
I know that dealer quality varies, but I've been fortunate to buy from Hendrick Porsche, Mercedes, and Subaru dealerships in Durham NC, where quality and services standards are consistently very high. It all comes down to corporate culture, as is always the case regardless of industry. As an example, the CPO on a GT3RS I bought in 2019 was **** retentive beyond belief, down to replacing a front spoiler with a minuscule scratch. underrneath.My local Ford dealership is also fanatical about service quality.
